Ericsson report says global 5G subscriptions pass 3 billion
AI is reshaping mobile networks as global 5G subscriptions surpass 3.1 billion.
Global 5G subscriptions passed 3 billion in the first quarter of 2026, according to Ericsson’s latest Mobility Report.
The report says 162 million 5G subscriptions were added during the quarter, bringing the global total to 3.1 billion. Ericsson expects 5G subscriptions to more than double to 6.4 billion by the end of 2031.
5G will also carry around half of global mobile data traffic by the end of 2025. Ericsson projects that 5G networks will account for 85% of mobile data traffic by 2031.
The report highlights the continued deployment of 5G Standalone networks and the growth of commercial network slicing services, which allow operators to offer differentiated connectivity for specific use cases.
Ericsson also points to changing traffic patterns. For many service providers, uplink traffic is already growing faster than downlink traffic, driven by collaboration tools, cloud storage and emerging services that require more data to be sent from devices to networks.
The company says AI-powered devices, augmented reality applications and connected technologies are likely to increase demand for real-time data processing and uplink capacity.
Ericsson said existing 5G networks can support early AI and extended reality services, while 6G is expected to enable larger-scale AI-native applications, with the first commercial services expected around 2030.
Why does it matter?
The report shows that 5G is becoming a core layer of digital infrastructure for AI-enabled services, cloud applications and connected devices. As AI moves from centralised data centres into devices, vehicles, workplaces and industrial systems, mobile networks will need to support higher uplink capacity, lower latency and more differentiated connectivity. Growth in 5G Standalone and network slicing also matters because these technologies give operators more tools to support specialised services, from enterprise automation to future AI and XR applications.
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